November 5, 2008

Just a second to let all of you know Tyler's new address.SPC Tyler Ellis4th PlatoonAlpha Co. 16th Order BNAberdeen Proving Ground, MD 21005Sorry I haven't gotten the graduation pics up. I will have to be the one to get them off my dad's camera, since he has no clue, and with Lucky's broken leg, I just haven't had time.

October 31, 2008

Well, Lucky's leg is broke in 2 places and dislocated. He has to spend the night at the vet's. I have cried like a baby. It's like all the tears from the months he was filling the Tyler void spilled out.

I went to Brittany and Timmy's tonight for their annual Halloween party. We kareoked and I have to admit, the good Christian fun took my mind off things. God is good like that. OH!! While at the party I got a call from St. Mary's about a job interview. Pray for me.

I just wanted to say sorry for not having graduation pics up yet. My brother' beagle stepped on Lucky and hurt his leg. He can't put weight on his left back leg and is barely eating. The vet didn't have anything until this afternoon, so I've been having to hold him since it happened Wednesday night. I'll post pics as soon as we get this all sorted.

October 25, 2008

Wow, God is good. I don't know how that can still surprise me, but sometimes it does.

Right after I posted from the road yesterday, we stopped to change at a reststop. A few miles later we pulled off to get gas. The Kroger was 2 miles from Interstate so we got back on. We stopped a few miles later at a Flying J. After dad paid, mom and I started looking at cookies. Dad got back in line and paid for the cookies. When we turned out of the gas station, dad went the wrong way. At the nearest place, we turned around.

Why do you care, you may ask? Because as we finally hot back on interstate, I saw a bus coming up the road! I immediately knew it was Tyler (my dad said bull). The bus passed us and another one pulled up behind us. I called Tyler, but he didn't answer. I told my parents he was asleep, which turned out to be right. We merged onto I-64 in Lexington and they did, too. They pulled off at a reststop in Winchester, so we followed. Sure enough, the bus stopped and out pour soldiers.

Then out comes MY soldier! I was SOOOOO happy! We chatted at the reststop for a few minutes. I asked him where they were stopping in WV. He found out from the busdriver that they would stop at exit 39, Teays Valley!!

We pulled out ahead of the bus and as we pulled off I-64 at Hal Greer, they were 5mi from WV (still in KY). Mom and dad drove me home, I got my car, and met Tyler in Teays Valley!!

Finally, after 2 days, we got some time alone! God knew how sad I was and, once again, took care of me. Had any number of little things been different, we never would have seen those buses and I would never have seen Tyler. God is good, all the time!

October 24, 2008

I just want to take a minute to thank all of you who came and helped make Tyler's graduation so special for him. I know his decision to join the military was a controvercial one, but you came to support him anyway. I'll update this thing once I get some of the pictures from my dad. Keep praying for Tyler. Pray for me too, that God makes this easier for me.

October 5, 2008

The latest from Tyler is that he got named Platoon Guide (PG). This means he is in charge when the Drill Sergent (DS) is not around, and sometimes when he is. He was surprised because he has pretty much kept his head down. The DS called him to the front of the formation and slapped the rank on him. He says it was because he has excelled in training exercises such as shooting. He says those "city boys" have never even held a gun. My family thinks this is hilarious bacause even compared to me, he's city in our family.

I got an email today from a lady whose church hosted the soldiers at Fort Knox for Operation Appreciation. In the email were 2 pictures of Tyler. I'm not sure who the other guys are, but if I find out, I will post it. Here ya go:

October 2, 2008

For those of you who don't already know, I'm obsessed with politics. I check the news all day everyday.

It also should be no secret that I am a big fan of McCain-Palin. My husband is a soldier, who else could I vote for? Obama, yeah right! Socialism is not my idea of how government should go in the US. It should be noted that Tyler asked me before he left if people were really voting for Obama. He simply couldn't believe it. We are talking a bit of politics I'm our letters and he says pretty much all of them are for McCain.

I bring all this up because I just watched the VP debates. Sarah Palin rocks. She's down to earth and yet somehow FAR above Joe Biden. Biden keeps saying I ride the train everyday (Amtrak by the way, $97 each way), yeah Joe, that's just like me. It's like we're BFF's...oh wait. Sarah Palin is a real person. 5 kids, 1 with special needs, 1 knocked up. Sounds pretty real to me.

September 28, 2008

Hi everyone. Sorry it has been a while since my last post. Things have been pretty busy. I negotiated a settlement on a car accident I had a while back, started on Weight Watchers (I've lost 5lbs in 2 weeks, YEAH!), started chior practice on Tuesdays for the Christmas Cantata at church where I have the hardest song, sang "Heart of Worship" with Brittany this morning, took Lucky to the vet (he had worms), bought some winter clothes to wear to church and plenty of other things besides. Everyone pray for me, by the way. A new company is buying the Dialysis Center and no one knows what is going to happen to the clinic I work for as our space is leased by Cabell Huntington Hospital to Marshall. I can't and won't go back to working in Internal Medicine, so...

Tyler is a great pen pal. I am not. I feel like I just keep up the routine, what am I supposed to say other than, "I miss you," which won't make either of us feel better.

Tyler did his gas chamber training. They had to go in, break the seal on their masks, then take them off and stow them before the doors would open. The whole group of ten had to do this. He said the outside of the building looked like the house in "The Texas Chainsaw Massacre" and inside looked like "Saw."

He also wrote me another letter saying they had been doing their rifle trainging. On that day he got the company record for the day on the hardest range (out of 240 guys). When they did their actual qualifications he qualified as a "Sharpshooter" with a score of 32 of 40. This is the Army's second highest qualification. He thinks he could have done better, but he couldn't see all the targets. He said he was ok with it because the "Expert" badge isn't as cool. Here is what a "Sharpshooter" badge looks like (the loops at the bottom are for a little bar with the qualifying weapon's name):Love and prayers. TTFN.

September 14, 2008

I don't have time for a full post right now, but just wanted to let anyone who plans to spend the night in KY for Tyler's graduation that my parents and I have booked a room at the Holiday Inn Express on Endeavor Way in Radcliff, KY. The hotel is supposed to be about 5 minutes from the base. It is cheapest to book it directly through Holiday Inn's website (by as much as $30). We will be spending the night October 22 and 23rd. Family Day is October 23. We can check Tyler out for the day and see the base. I'm not sure how we'll work that with all the different branches of the family tree, but we'll figure it out. October 24 is Tyler's bootcamp Graduation. I'm not sure what time yet. I'll keep you posted.

September 4, 2008

Thank God for Labor Day! I had the day off and I really needed it. I'm so tired, a break was just what I needed. The rest of the week always seems so long, though.

Lucky is doing great! He's not housebroken yet, but he learned to sit! Now when he comes back in from using the bathroom, he sits all around you until he gets a treat. It's SO funny! Here are some pics of my baby in action:

Isn't he the cutest thing ever?!

Tyler has written me a couple of times this week. He asks that no one writes more than twice a week. In the first letter he told me to call my BFF Brittany and tell her that going to Basic is like being pregnant. Here's how: you wake up tired and sick to your stomach, your back always hurts from carrying so much weight, and you are either really happy or really mad all the time. I think that is hilarious!! In the second letter he says they got the day off for Labor Day. They were told to stay in the barracks and stay quiet. They only left for their 3 meals a day.

In the next post I'll try to get my new scanner to work so I can post the picture of his barracks he drew. Oh, BTW I've been titling my posts with song titles. Don't know if anyone picked up on that.

August 23, 2008

Sorry I haven't updated in a few days. I've had technical difficulties.

I got a puppy last Saturday! His name is Lucky! (His full name is Lucky Dud, for whatever reason, my dad wanted my dog named after him. My mom says she'll reserve her naming rights for a kid, LOL.) He's a 3/4lb, 7 week old Yorkie who thinks he is a Great Dane. He is just about the cutest thing ever. He takes up all my spare time, which I guess is good. He likes to chase and fight with Dixie (my brothers Beagle).

I got to talk to Tyler on Monday. We spoke for literally 1 minute. He said he was tired as they were only sleeping about 2 hours per night. When I spoke to him, he hadn't even started his actual bootcamp! He was still in reception practicing "hurry up and wait" and staying awake. He finally started his actual training on Wednesday. He says he has heard they will get 10minutes of phone time on Sundays, but for me not to get my hopes up. I got a form letter today with his address. Here it is for all of you:

SPC Tyler Ellis

4th Platoon (BCT), Widow Makers

Echo Company, 1/46 IN BN

Fort Knox, KY 40121-5728

I should note that the letter expressly states he cannot receive candy, soda, cookies, magazines or newspapers. So basically a letter or card is pretty much it. He wanted me to say I to everyone, too.

I also want to say: A Very Happy Birthday to my Daddy. He turned 54 today!

August 15, 2008

I guess Tyler made it there OK, he hasn't called yet. He had said he was going to be able to call when he got there just to say he made it, but apparently his intellegence was faulty (I just sounded so Army). I just want to hear from him! I've become obsessed with my phone. I stare at it all the time hoping I won't miss his call.I'm still crying everytime he is mentioned. I don't know how I will stand this, but God will never give me more than I can handle LOL. I chuckle because that doesn't mean he won't let things be thrown at you right up to the line, he just doesn't give you TOO much.The only good thing that has happened is that my mom and dad have agreed I can get a dog. So, tomorrow starts Yorkie Search 2008! I will be looking in all the local papers for a Yorkie puppy. If any of you know anyone selling Yorkie puppies, let me know.

August 14, 2008

Well, it's finally come. Tyler is gone. He made weight and left Beckley at around noon. The last I heard from him, he was at Golden Coral and had about 2 hours still on the road. That was at 3:00pm.

Yesterday, he picked me up from lunch and when he dropped me off,the last time I saw him, it was SO hard to let go. People kept asking me why I didn't take the day off work and on one hand, I wish I would have. On the other hand I probably would have been hysterical instead of just breaking out crying every now and then. I didn't really cry once I got back to work. I actually had a patient tell me I was sound so professional when I answered the phone which made me feel about Full Metal Jacket and Star Wars: Revenge of the Sith (both nowhere near what could be considered chick flicks).

I made a heart out of a pink paper clip for Tyler to take with him. I told him to carry it in his pocket and think of me. At lunch, he told me he had something similar for me in front of the TV at home. Then I got home, it was this:

I broke down again. It is a coin and I am going to carry it in my pocket at all times.

That's all for now. I'll keep you all up to date when I hear from him.

August 10, 2008

Here we are folks: Day 2 of the Farewell Tour. We spent the day with Tyler's mom's side of the family. We had all of Tyler's favorite foods, most of which I love, too. We spent the evening with Brittany and Timmy at Rio Grande, neither Tyler nor I really ate.

I've busted out crying twice today. Tyler asked me if it would be easier if I were mad at him and proceeded to throw a golf ball at my knee. I told him it was much easier for me to cry. He keeps saying it is going to be easier than I think, but I'm not at all convinced.

Hi guys! Tyler and I decided long ago I should start this blog when he went to bootcamp so I could keep all of you informed where he may not be able to. I'll warn you in advance, I'm not a very good pen pal, but I'm gonna try to update this at least once a week.

I though for my very first post, I would just tell you how I came up with the name for this blog: Our Ellis Army. Well, obviously Tyler has joined the Army. That was only part of it, though. I wanted something that will grow with us as we start our family, our own Army. It just seemed to be the perfect to me. What do you guys think? I'll leave off with pics from Tyler's going away dinner at his dad's.